Penstemon washingtonensis

Herbs. Stems erect, 3–25 cm, glabrous or ± retrorsely hairy, not glaucous. Leaves basal and cauline, not leathery, glabrous; basal and proximal cauline (10–)17–60 × 5–18 mm, blade spatulate to oblanceolate, lanceolate, or elliptic, base tapered, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or acute; cauline 2–6 pairs, short-petiolate or sessile, 10–55 × 3–15 mm, blade ovate to lanceolate, base tapered to clasping, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute. Thyrses interrupted, cylindric, 1–6 cm, axis sparsely glandular-pubescent, sometimes also retrorsely hairy, verticillasters 1–3(or 4), cymes 2–6-flowered, 2 per node; proximal bracts lanceolate, 2–15 × 1–7 mm, margins entire; peduncles and pedicels erect, sparsely to moderately glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate, 3–4 × 0.8–1.2 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla dark blue, sometimes whitish, without nectar guides, funnelform, 9–12 mm, glandular-pubescent externally, moderately whitish lanate internally abaxially, tube 3–4 mm, throat slightly inflated, 2–3 mm diam., 2-ridged abaxially; stamens included, pollen sacs opposite, explanate to subexplanate, 0.5–0.6 mm, dehiscing completely, connective splitting, sides glabrous, sutures smooth; staminode 5–6 mm, included, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to slightly recurved, distal 0.5–1 mm moderately pilose, hairs golden yellow, to 0.5 mm; style 4–6 mm. Capsules 4–7 × 2.5–4 mm, glabrous.

Phenology: Flowering Jul–Aug(–Sep).
Habitat: Alpine meadows, rocky slopes, grassy openings in pine-fir forests.
Elevation: 1800–2300 m.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Wash.

Discussion

Penstemon washingtonensis is known from Chelan and Okanogan counties. Except for its glandular-pubescent inflorescence, P. washingtonensis is morphologically similar to P. procerus var. tolmiei.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.